Tourism Industry Events

The 30th Annual Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Golf Tournament will be hosted at Bighorn Golf & Country Club in Kamloops with a full day of food, drink, and fun. The event has been rescheduled to May 30, 2024.

A free introductory webinar on Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) to help participants understand how RNG is an adaptable option to lower carbon footprints in businesses, transportation, and residential sectors.

An introductory webinar on Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) to explain how RNG is the same in its composition yet different and renewable to Natural Gas. Learn how adding RNG into their energy mix can help your business reach your carbon emission and sustainability goals.

Register →

Ginger Brunner, go2HR’s Manager of Industry Human Resources & Mental Health shared psychologically safe onboarding practices and practical tips and tools to use when recruiting and onboarding new employees. You can now watch the recording and download the slide deck.

Host: Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is presenting a virtual walkthrough of the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Platform for B.C. tourism companies and how it can help to track progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the BiosphereSustainable.com platform, a sustainability management system for tourism companies.

Register →

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Indigenous Tourism team is hosting a 3-hour virtual workshop featuring Westbank First Nation elders to empower tourism professionals to engage with Indigenous neighbours, businesses, and communities within Canada.

$30 | Registration is limited.

Register →

Host: Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is presenting a virtual walkthrough of the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Platform for B.C. tourism companies and how it can help to track progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the BiosphereSustainable.com platform, a sustainability management system for tourism companies.

Learn More & Register →

TOTA’s Energy Analyst hosted a webinar with Jordan Fisher, Chief Decarbonization Officer of FRESCo, on how hotels and tourism businesses can access Energy Efficiency updates, support, and financial savings.

This webinar showcased:

• How to access FortisBC rebates and government tax credits

• Two Free FortisBC programs that can help reduce building operation costs

• Free energy assessment to identify opportunities

• Free engineering support to implement building upgrades

• Free water saving devices

Watch Recording →

Host: Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is presenting a virtual walkthrough of the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Platform for B.C. tourism companies and how it can help to track progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the BiosphereSustainable.com platform, a sustainability management system for tourism companies.

Learn More & Register →

Host: TOTA & eLearningU

Want to elevate your team's digital marketing skills? Learn about the Tourism Digital Marketing Course by eLearningU and how to get a discounted price through TOTA.

Watch Recording →

Host: Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is presenting a virtual walkthrough of the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Platform for B.C. tourism companies and how it can help to track progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the BiosphereSustainable.com platform, a sustainability management system for tourism companies.

Learn More & Register →

Host: TOTA Indigenous Tourism Team

$30 | Registration is limited

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Indigenous Tourism team is hosting a 3-hour virtual workshop to empower tourism professionals to engage with Indigenous neighbours, businesses, and communities within Canada.

Register →

Host: TOTA & GreenStep

Taking action to reduce your tourism operations carbon footprint is a tremendous opportunity to decrease costs, engage your team, and build your brand as a responsible tourism provider. Measuring your carbon footprint for small and mid-sized businesses is easy with the EcoBase software and guidance from GreenStep.

Watch Recording →

Host: TOTA & go2HR

There is no denying it, the COVID-19 pandemic has in many cases changed not only how we work, but where. As workforce trends (and worker preferences) across the globe shift in favour of remote or hybrid workplaces, BC tourism and hospitality employers who are in a position to do so, are considering their options. While the idea of having employees work entirely or partly from home may seem attractive, it brings new challenges for the workplace. There are important HR, mental health, health and safety, and legal responsibilities and impacts to consider.

If you are considering or recently moved towards remote or hybrid work for your employees, join go2HR for this practical and informative webinar.

This webinar is ideal for employers, managers, supervisors, and business owners.

Watch Recording →

After receiving much interest in the first Preparing an "Indigenous Cultural Tourism Strategy" workshop, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is hosting this virtual workshop once again.

Learn how Indigenous businesses can develop Indigenous Cultural Tourism experiences and how any tourism business can incorporate Indigenous tourism into their offerings.

Learn More & Register →

TOTA and GreenStep Solutions hosted an Energy Savings Webinar to assist tourism operators in understanding what goes on in an energy audit that will help businesses reduce their energy bills and thereby reduce their overall carbon footprint.

View Recording →

Learn how Indigenous businesses can develop Indigenous Cultural Tourism experiences and how any tourism business can incorporate Indigenous tourism into their offerings.

Tasting the Okanagan Through the Ages is an event created through the South Okanagan Food & Drink Experience Development Program which occurred between September 2021 - January 2022 in partnership with TOTA, Destination BC, and the Culinary Tourism Alliance.

Join Chef Aman Dosanj of the Paisley Notebook pop-up series for an immersive dining experience on Covert Farm's 650-acre, fourth-generation farm. The event will guide guests through a multi-course food and wine paired sensory journey of our bountiful region.

Learn More & Register →

Host: TOTA & Indigenous Tourism BC

Price: $30 | Limited availability.

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is hosting an online workshop to share how tourism and hospitality experiences can spark conversation that leads down the path towards reconciliation.

Reconciliation through tourism is an ongoing journey, one that will take a collective effort to find a new way forward. Thompson Okanagan tourism and hospitality professionals in all sectors are invited to take part in this important conversation.

In the workshop, participants will learn:

• What reconciliation means to different people.

• How to foster meaningful dialogue with respect to the diverse Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives of reconciliation.

• How conversations can inspire action towards reconciliation.

• How to build relationships with Indigenous businesses and communities.

• How to incorporate reconciliation into their experiences.

The workshop is a safe environment where people can engage in meaningful discussion and explore different ways to achieve tourism-based reconciliation.

Learn More & Register →

Host: Green Wine Future, sponsored by TOTA

Green Wine Future is the most ambitious environmental conference ever organized for the global wine community. The fully online gathering on May 23 to 26, 2022 will address critical topics of sustainability, wine, and matters related to the climate crisis and the environment.

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has joined with Green Wine Future (GWF) as one of its corporate sponsors and strategic partners.

Learn More & Register →

Host: BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS), including Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)

The BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) is preparing to launch the Tourism Impact Portal, a common data portal that will serve as the central information place for BC tourism stakeholders. This joint initiative of five BC tourism regions, including the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), will serve as the foundation of tourism insights by bringing together disparate data sources to empower tourism companies to make well-informed and responsible development decisions, strengthening sustainable tourism development into the future.

The BCRTS is introducing the Tourism Impact Portal through two virtual information sessions on May 17 at 12 PM PT and May 18 at 9 AM PT. Sessions will offer insights and include time for questions and feedback.

Session 1: May 17 @ 12 PM PT | Register →

Session 2: May 18 @ 9 AM PT | Register →

Registration closes May 13.

Host: TOTA / Symphony Tourism Services / BCRTS

On May 12, learn how to integrate research into your marketing plan with this 3-hr interactive, online workshop for up to 20 participants in the Thompson Okanagan region. The engaging and collaborative workshop is intended to guide tourism operators in answering questions regarding their business and ideal customer/target markets.

Participants will build a better understanding of how to apply the data to implement marketing strategies through insights and data gathered from the Weekly Tracker, Monthly Visitor Highlights, EQ & Prizm Profile for the Thompson Okanagan region.

Tourism operators will leave the workshop knowing how to identify their ideal customer, tailor their message, and implement practical actions for reaching those customers.

Host: BC Hospitality Foundation, sponsored by TOTA

The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) is hosting the inaugural Okanagan Golf Tournament at The Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna to kick off the golf season on May 10, 2022, followed by legacy tournaments in Vancouver and Victoria this summer.

Annual golf tournaments are important fundraising events for BC Hospitality Foundation. Funds raised help hospitality workers across BC each year that are in a financial crisis due to a medical condition.

Register →

Hosts: Women of Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality (WORTH) Association, BC Tourism Resiliency Network, and Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)

In the Seat at the Table webinar, Joanna Jagger, President of WORTH Association, examined why women aren't dominating in a female dominated industry and how we can work collectively to ensure more women take a seat at the table.

The webinar includes findings from a research project with industry leaders and a Gender Equity Audit co-created by women in leadership roles, with recommendations and best practices.

Get the WORTH Gender Equity Audit:

• Fillable Spreadsheet Checklist (click File > Make a Copy)

• Printable PDF Checklist